Descriptions of systems for pre-college training in European countries

Music education at levels before higher music education is organised in different ways throughout Europe. This is mainly due to historically different educational systems and the connection of music education to general education and the national musical infrastructure. A European-wide mapping exercise was therefore undertaken by the Polifonia pre-college working group to describe systems in pre-college training.

A comprehensive overview of pre-college systems in 29 countries has been made, which can be found in a set of descriptions of national systems for pre-college music training.

This overview will be available on line soon.

In addition to these national descriptions, the Polifonia Pre-college working group also produced the following other documents:
• A study on where and how young talents are prepared for the higher education in music 

• A literature research about the necessity of starting with music education at an early age in order to be able to become a professional musician
• A set of learning outcomes that can be used by pre-college music institutions for the preparation of their students for the higher education level and that are connected to the learning outcomes for the 1st cycle
• Examples of good practice in pre-college training based on site visits